Steve Smith Art - Mezzo Forte




A New Art Piece
"Mezzo Forte" by Steve Smith

For the first time in nearly four years, drummer Steve Smith has unveiled an extraordinary new art piece. Titled "Mezzo Forte," the work's visual features a fusion of rhythmic art by Smith, as well as hand done notation. The result is a unique and dynamic new work that is limited to just 100 pieces available worldwide.

• Measures 14" x 17"
• Giclee on archival paper
• Numbered and individually signed by Steve Smith
• Ships with Certificate of Authenticity
• Edition of 100




RESERVE YOURS
Steve Smith
A note from Steve on the work:

On my newest SceneFour offering I’ve added drum notation in various colors, complimenting the hues and shapes of the initial art, which was created by playing drums using lighted sticks. In my previous collection, The Fabric of Rhythm, minimal notation is part of two pieces. Ravi and Cory of SceneFour encouraged me to develop the notation concept in my new drum art. Drum notation is a common part of my daily life. When learning new music I make extensive use of written music, many times transcribing sections, or even the entire drum part to a song. If I have new ideas to work on, I’ll notate them for future reference. Because I’ve been reading music since I was nine years old, to me it’s as natural as reading a newspaper.

The notation on Mezzo Forte is all playable and meaningful to me. For example at the top of the piece you see the notation for the jazz ride cymbal beat. There are various rhythms from India that I use when I perform, including one group of five notes with the corresponding konnakol syllables “ta di ki ta thom.”

Mezzo Forte is the musical term meaning: to be played “moderately loud.” If I was handed this piece and asked to interpret it on the drums, I would play at the dynamic level mf.

Enjoy,
Steve Smith

The two basic dynamic indications in music are:
  • p or piano, meaning "soft".[6][7]
  • f or forte, meaning "loud".[6][8]

  • More subtle degrees of loudness or softness are indicated by:
  • mp, standing for mezzo-piano, meaning "moderately soft".
  • mf, standing for mezzo-forte, meaning "moderately loud".[9]
  • più p, standing for più piano and meaning "more soft".
  • più f, standing for più forte and meaning "more loud".

  • Use of up to three consecutive fs or ps is also common:
  • pp, standing for pianissimo and meaning "very soft".
  • ff, standing for fortissimo and meaning "very loud".
  • ppp, standing for pianississimo and meaning "very very soft".
  • fff, standing for fortississimo and meaning "very very loud".[9]